Pneumatically operated femoral artery compressor

ABSTRACT

This invention discloses a pneumatically operated femoral artery compressor applying calibrated and calibrateable external pressure on the puncture site of a fermoral artery with the plunger end of a mounted pressurized syringe assembly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus to apply externalcalibrated and calibrateable pressure on a femoral artery after atransfemoral angiographic procedure.

BACKGROUND AND DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

After each transfemoral angiographic procedure, it is always necessaryto apply external pressure over the puncture site for a period rangingfrom fifteen to thirty minutes in order to stop the bleeding. Manualmethod has been the only means. In the market is a "Compressar"mechanical model which is basically a C-clamp device applying externalbut uncalibrated and uncalibrateable pressure over the puncture site.Ordinarily, pressure bandage or dressing devices are used after thebleeding has completely ceased. This invention discloses a moreconvenient, inexpensive, effort-saving, and labor-saving apparatus tostop the initial bleeding and any subsequent bleeding with externalcalibrated and calibrateable pressure from the plunger end of apneumatically charged syringe assembly, as will be described more fullyin the following specifications and further defined in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a fixed perspective and sectional view of the preferredembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT, ITS PARTS, AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

Referring to FIG. 1, the vertically oriented syringe assembly has around barrel 1 the open end of which points downward, and the upper endof which is permanently connected to the first end of a flexible tubing2. The remaining section of tubing 2 is connected to an in-line pressuregauge 3 and also to an in-line small (approximately one hundred to twohundred millimeters) rigid air reservoir 4. The second end of the tubing2 is permanently connected to a hand-operated bulb insufflator 5, whichsupplies air to barrel 1 through tubing 2. The lower end of the syringeplunger 6 of the syringe assembly is fitted with a sterile andreplaceable pressure disk 7. O-rings 8 between the circumference ofplunger 6 and the interior wall of barrel 1 serve as seals and yet allowpiston actions between plunger 6 and barrel 1. The function of reservoiris to maintain a reasonably constant intra-barrel pressure in the eventof small movements of plunger 6. As depicted, the first end of thebarrel-supporting horizontally oriented rod 9 is permanently and fixedlymounted near the mid-section of barrel 1. As depicted, 10 represents aright-angle scaffold joint having a first horizontal tunnel and a secondvertical tunnel The said first horizontal tunnel receives slideably thesecond end of supporting rod 9. 13 depicts a first hand-operated setscrew on the right-angle scaffold joint 10 to fix the position ofsupporting rod 9 within right-angle scaffold joint 10. 12 depicts avertically oriented pole which fits slideably in said second verticaltunnel of said right-angle scaffold joint 10. In the body of right-anglescaffold joint 10 is a second hand-operated set screw 11 which fixes theposition of pole 12 within said right-angle scaffold joint 10. The lowerend of pole 12 is permanently and fixedly mounted near an edge of ahorizontally oriented baseboard 14.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

(1) deflating the air pressure in barrel 1 by opening the valve in thebulb insufflator 5;

(2) collapsing plunger 6 completely into barrel 1;

(3) by loosening set screw 11, raising the syringe assembly sufficientlyto clear the hip of a supine-lying patient;

(4) placing baseboard 14 under the hip of the supine-lying patient;

(5) adjusting the position of rod 9 and right-angle scaffold joint 10 toplace compressor disk 7 over the femoral artery puncture site, asknowledgeable to those skilled in the art of angiography;

(6) tightening both set screws 13 and 11;

(7) by operating bulb insufflator 5, the operator pressurizes theinterior of barrel 1, as knowledgeable to those skilled in the art ofangiography;

(8) extracting the catheter from the femoral artery slowly. If bleedingoccurs, the operator can increase the pneumatic pressure. In anemergency situation, he loosens set screw 11, raises the syringeassembly, and removes the entire apparatus from the patient;

(9) additional visual monitoring is desirable. After the first fewminutes, the operator may decrease the pneumatic pressure somewhat, inorder to reduce discomfort the patient may experience. The pneumaticpressure can be adjusted up or down any time; and

(10) after the initial bleeding has stopped, the apparatus may bemaintained on the patient without pressure in the syringe or withappropriate pneumatic pressure in the syringe for as long as necessary,as the physician sees fit.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated withrespect to a preferred embodiment and a preferred use, therefore, it isnot to be limited since modification and changes can be made therein,which are within the full intent, scope, and spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. For the purpose of applying external pressure on a femoralartery while and after a catheter is extracted from said femoral artery,an apparatus comprising:a) a vertically oriented syringe assembly havinga barrel pointing upward and a plunger, having a lower end pointingdownward and adapted to be in contact with the skin over the puncturesite of said femoral artery and sealing means on the plunger to preventair from escaping said barrel; b) a rigid air reservoir, one end ofwhich being connected via a first flexible tubing to an upper end ofsaid barrel and the other end of said reservoir via a second flexibletubing to a hand-operated bulb insufflator supplying air to said barrel;c) to monitor the pressure within said barrel, an in-line air pressuregauge connected to said first flexible tubing; d) a horizontallyoriented rod having two ends, the first end being mounted permanentlyand fixedly to said barrel; e) a right-angle scaffold joint having twothrough-and-through tunnels, the first and horizontal tunnel of saidscaffold joint slideable accepting the second end of said horizontallyoriented rod; f) a hand-operated set screw in the body of saidright-angle scaffold joint to fix the position of said horizontallyoriented rod within said first and horizontal tunnel of said right-anglescaffold joint; g) a vertically oriented pole slideable fitting insidethe second and vertical tunnel said right-angle scaffold joint; h) ahand-operated set screw in the body of said right-angle scaffold jointto fix the position of said vertically oriented pole within saidright-angle scaffold joint; and i) a horizontally oriented baseboardadapted to be placed under the hip of a supine-lying patient, saidbase-board near an edge being mounted permanently and fixedly to thelower end of said vertically oriented pole.
 2. A method of stoppingbleeding from a femoral artery while and after a catheter is extractedfrom said femoral artery by applying external pressure over the puncturesite with the end of said plunger of said apparatus as set forth inclaim
 1. 3. The lower end of said plunger as set forth in claim 1 isfurther defined to be fitted with a sterile disk.
 4. The lower end ofsaid plunger as set forth in claim 1 is further defined to be fittedwith a replaceable disk.
 5. The lower end of said plunger as set forthin claim 1 is further defined to be fitted with a sterile andreplaceable disk.